The Sleepy Eye Indians hosted the Searles Grizzlies Sunday afternoon with a depleted pitching staff and some starters unavailable. With a cobbled together lineup the Indians got into trouble right from the start. Joey Walter took to the mound for his first career start and struggled to find the strike zone. The Grizzlies put together several walks and a few solid hits to take a five run lead and after two and two-thirds innings Walter was relieved by Landon Zinniel. Zinniel also had a problem finding the elusive strike zone and lasted only one and a third innings, allowing two earned runs. Zinniel departed due to a back injury and Scott Salfer came to pitch four innings, giving up three runs. Brandon Streich pitched the ninth to close out the game with the final score 3-10. The Indians actually outhit Searles 13 to 8, but three errors and 12 walks spelled the difference. John Mangen was three-for-four at the plate for Sleepy Eye with a double and a RBI. Sean Mathiowetz was three-for-five with a triple, Nolan Helget was two-for-three and Derek Nachreiner hit a double for two RBI.

Sleepy Eye 1

Lamberton 10

The Indians traveled to Lamberton Friday trying to avenge a close loss to the Lamberton Longsox earlier in the year. Ineffective pitching by the Indians was also the difference in this game, surrendering nine walks and hitting three Longsox batters. Nathan Kral got the start and went two and a third innings giving up seven runs on five hits. Matt Helget relieved, pitched the rest of the game and was touched for three runs on eight hits and striking out seven. On offense, the Indians mustered only six hits although they hit the ball hard. Sleepy Eye’s only run came when Andrew Bach was hit by the pitcher and scored on a base hit by Sean Mathiowetz. John Mangen was two-for-four and Derek Nachreiner two-for-three for the Indians.